furious d

I think we could finish as low as 12th, probably go as high as 7th if everything goes right. That puts our picks at somewhere between 8-20. Between 00-05 these players were taken top 5- Justin Kositchke, Luke Livingstone, Andrew McDougall, Graham Polak, Xavier Clarke, Tim Walsh, Farren Ray, Brock McLean, Richard Tambling and Xavier Ellis, along with Jared Brennan, Daniel Wells, Ryan Griffen and Andrew Walker who are solid players but not stars. Pick 1 and 2 are rarely misses but 3-5 are no certainties. I really only consider 1&2 as genuine pointy end picks that hold a special premium, after that it all becomes relative. Picks 1&2 in a mini draft are not the same thing as picks 1&2 in a real draft, smaller field and further out. In the same period these players were taken 8-20- Shaun Burgoyne, Scott Thompson, Kane Cornes, Jimmy Bartel, Nick Dal Santo, James Kelly, Beau Waters, Braent Stanton, David Mundy, Mitch Clark, Shaun Higgins, Nate Jones, Shannon Hurn and Grant Birchill. Not all a graders admitedly but some pretty decent players that would be rated highly at their clubs. I'm not against looking at what's on offer in the mini draft and what it might cost us but it's wait and see this far out. Just curious rpfc, would you activate both picks next year?

Just had a look H_T, last edited 22nd oct. Nic Haynes jumped to 23 in the revision while Lockyear and Kersten dropped to 48 and 49 respectively. I think it shows what most recruiters are rumoured to think, after the early picks you can throw a blanket over the field.

Top 5 is hit and miss rpfc, even in recent years. Our picks next year could start as high as 8 and that is exactly where Bartel was taken.

The first decision we have to make is whether to activate our compo picks or not. Has to be done before the season starts. Activating at least 1 of them is a no brainer, the one tied to our ladder position might as well be activated asap. The mid first round pick will still have currency for several years and I can see arguements for and against activating it. GC are probably in the box seat to nab pick 1 in next years minidraft again. They have 2 end of round 1 compo picks, a low pick and possible priority pick, Brisbane will have an end of round 1 compo pick, a low pick and a possible priority pick. Port could have 2 top 5 picks and if the bulldogs finish below us they might be able to outbid us also. We are no certainties to be able to get into the next mini draft. We will have the cap space to attract a player and the compo picks don't hurt when dealing with another club, but I still couldn't see us getting an elite player without giving up a lot and paying way overs in salary. I'd rather go the draft route personally. We might be able to fit a Pendles into our cap now but what happens in a few years when our kids want a bigger slice of the pie. I want a wide open window that lasts and I think our best chance at that is through the draft. I'd activate both picks next year, play trade week by ear like we did this year and only swoop if there's a bargain that fits into our plan. If not, Jack Viney and 2 more quality kids isn't a bad result.

I'd delist Wonna with an offer to re rookie and give Joel a 1 year deal. Minimum 3 picks in this draft and more room to manouvre next year. We may need 6 or 7 delistings next year with early picks and possible rookie elevations

With no early picks and ,according to the experts, a fairly even spread of talent through the middle of the draft, I think we should target needs this draft. Our biggest need is a quality crumbing forward and history shows you can get decent ones later in the draft. Second I'd be after a small defender that can take on that small crumbing forward. Following your lead WJ here's Knightmare's thoughts on a few of them. First the small forwards And the small defenders The first in each catergory will likely be gone before our pick but it doesn't hurt to dream, especially in this draft.

Not for me. I want to see them done by 50 goals. I want Sheedy and Allen to be laughed out of the game.

If he can avg 2 goals a game next year I'll be happy. We won't see his true value until our midfield comes on. He should be kicking around 60 when we're a top 4 threat.

Disagree, he would've only been competing with a 3rd round rookie draft pick. I'm not saying he would have definately got another year, but it would have been a lot more likely with us than Hawthorn.

I'll probably get abused for this, but good. If he had of stayed with us he probably would have got another year, he was only competing for a list spot with an upgraded rookie.. The way he left was a disgrace, potentially cost Junior another year, and was probably the stupidest decision ever made by a footballer trying to lengthen his career. Overpaid and selfish is how I'll remember Cam.

You'd seriously trade a bloke because his "value is high right now and possibly as high as it will get". So you'd trade every late pick gem and anyone over 27 as soon as they are in form. Seriously, that is not a reason to trade someone. Loyalty is a 2 way street, players would desert in droves if you treated them with such contempt.

Plough seems to think he'd be top 5 if availablethis draft

Why 4? $cummy out, Clark in, am I missing something. It's 3 isn't it? Not sure of Fitzpatrick's or MacDonald's contract status but Warnock, Maric and Wonnaemirri are the other uncontracteds I think. Warnock and Maric won't be in a Dees jumper next year and I really hope we reconsider the Dogs offer for Bate. If we were to chase Caddy we'd have to let Joel Mac or Wonna go. I doubt Wonna would get to us in the rookie draft this year. I'd be comfortable with that

(1) Didn't Rickybobby lay a record number of forward 50 tackles in a game this year? Howe has been excellent with his defensive pressure. Watts and Jurrah are anything but slow. It's all about mindset and I trust Neeld will be stressing the importance of tackling pressure. (2) We have plenty of cap space and he's a professional. (3) Doesn't affect Martin. Clark will play predominately forward. We didn't give up pick 12 and pay top $$ to strengthen our ruck stocks.

I have to admit I was disappointed when he knocked us back so this is a nice surprise. Well done MFC. I think once Brisbane found out they'd be entitled to compo if GWS picked him in the PSD, Mitch lost the upper hand. Finally one of the concessions afforded that abomination of a club has worked in our favour. I rate Clark and he's just coming in to his prime. Perfect fit for us and I'd prefer him to Dawes. We'll see his real value in the second half of his contract imo, once our midfield has developed a bit more. I expect him to be playing a major role in a top 4 team by the end of his contract

Jamar and Martin are going nowhere. We would be chasing Clark to play as a forward imo. We couldn't prise Dawes out of Collingwood so we're throwing that coin at Clark. Jolly, Brown, Cloke and Dawes all played within their structure, that'll be Jamar, Martin, Clark and Watts for us. For the moment Spencer is depth and Gawn is developing. Pretty sure I heard on trade week radio that Freo had offered Clark more money to return home and that's why he wanted to go there and not to WC. He may not have been so keen to get home if the lucrative contract wasn't on offer. Now we've signifigantly upped the ante, and if Clark was more keen on Freo's money than the Perth sunshine we may have finally nabbed our big forward. He's 24 and has 80 odd games under his belt, just about to hit his straps and will still be around when we start to threaten. This will be a good get if we can get it over the line

Hopefully more like 286 brutal. I hate this mob nearly as much as Carlton and hope they're a bigger failure than University.

We should offer both compo picks if we need to to trump Adelaide. Our compo picks will be around the 10 mark and are valid for 5 years in drafts GWS aren't already raping. They have to be more valuable. Straight swap, $cummy for Crouch.

Port may be keen on pick 12 to get the Ebert deal done. Giving up 6 for Ebert would be paying overs, but if they trade 6 to us for a player and 12, then 12 to WC for Ebert it's a better deal. I'd be very surprised if Bate was that player though. Very happy to see Harrington is as keen on the mini-draft as a lot of us around here. I don't care if we get pick 1 or 2, I'd be just as happy with Crouch as O'meara. I can't see anyone trumping pick 12 and a compo pick, if GWS only want picks. Get it done Tim.

I could be wrong but I think he's Lutz now. Apologies in advance if I'm wrong Lutz. I just assume anyone who racks up a hundred posts in their first week is E25 now Edit- Makes it harder to keep track now the join date isn't shown.

Bruce was an idiot for leaving and Green would be even stupider to leave. Blind Freddie could see that club had chosen them as it's 2 veterans list players and as long as they could provide more value than the rookie list spot they were taking up, they would be retained. Jamar is at least another year away, maybe 2 from being eligible, so Bruce may have got 3 years here on 1 year contracts. I like Brad and hope he stays but I support the clubs stance of 1 year contracts for over30's. As for the captaincy, that's Neeld's decision. I'd be surprised and disappointed if it was playing any part in contract negotiations.

We should definately wave the $cummy compo under Sheedy's nose. It won't land us an established star but it might be enough to get us a future one. I'd be very happy with either O'Meara or Crouch. Even with Viney and one of O'Meara or Crouch coming in I'd still go a mid or a mid/def with pick 12 this year. Hoskin-Elliot or Buntine would be the dream but both will probably be gone. Sumner or Docherty are probably more realistic. If Greene is available at our pick he may be too good to ignore. Kavanagh is an interesting one but I'm not sure we should be taking any risks with first round picks, he was considered top 5 before his injuries.

I thought this bit was interesting Sounds like we'll have more say in the structure Casey plays with, if, by some miracle, Hagdorn has got that right.

For this to work he'd have to come cheap, but it would still need to be enough to get St Kilda interested. What would you be prepared to pay? I'd start with a 2nd round pick and Warnock. He's better than Dawson.

Not sure, thought I read it or heard it but had a look and couldn't find it. Must have dreamt it, apologies.